A senior Israeli defense official said Monday there is a “window of opportunity” for a Gaza hostage deal ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming Middle East visit. If no agreement is reached, Israel will launch “Operation Gideon Chariots,” an expanded campaign aimed at conquering Gaza and displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the south.
President Trump is absolutely right!
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) May 4, 2025
Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters. pic.twitter.com/eO4hyUzNsI
The Israeli security cabinet approved the plan unanimously on Sunday, including a controversial framework for aid delivery — still unimplemented — as international criticism mounts. Trump, set to visit Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar next week, is not currently scheduled to stop in Israel but is expected to face pressure from Gulf leaders to push for a ceasefire.
The U.S. and Israel are discussing a new mechanism to deliver aid to Gaza without involving Hamas, but major aid groups have rejected the proposal, citing violations of humanitarian principles. Over 52,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, local health officials report.
